Mountain Flight, Kathmandu

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Several local airlines offer 45 minute flights every morning around the Himalayas in a small plane. I talked to a lot of people who took this and were disappointed the plane doesn't get closer to Mount Everest. But they do point it out and other famous mountains from the window and even let you into the cockpit for pictures. As I wasn't up for trekking, this was the best look I got at the Himalayas.

I took Yeti Airlines and the cost was about $170.

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This flight is totally worth it!! I think we paid 140 USD and we used Yeti Airlines. Our tour company, www.adventurediscoverytreks.com, booked everything for us and we are so glad we decided to do this. We flew beside the Himalayan Mountain Range and the views were fantastic. There truly is no other mountain range like this in the world. Highly recommend this trip even though you have to get up really early.

If in Nepal and unable to trek into the Himalayas then the easiest way to view the Mighty Himalayas including Mount Everest is by taking the one hour "Mountain Flight " tours from Kathmandu airport.Its moderately priced compared to either a 13 day Annapurna or Mount Everest base camp tour.

The mountain flight is available only in Kathmandu, Nepal. This one hour flight costs $171 but discounts is available. The flight takes place from Kathmandu airport and takes you back to the same. Among all the encounter with Mt. Everest is the unforgettable experience in your life. A one hour journey through the Himalayas is amazing and awesome. When i did it first time in 2007 i thought to take my daughter and husband. This april 2011 i did it with my family members. Both of the times i did with Buddha Air. Though there are different companies Buddha is the best and pioneer in the everest experience flights. Balaram also managed car transports to and from airport for the flight for us.

What?

All of the local airlines offer mountain flights, which will take you to the Everest area. You will also be given a map highlighting some of the other peaks you're likely to see on the trip, including Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, as well as other 7,000+ and 8,000+ peaks. Keep in mind though that some of Nepal's other famous peaks are not seen on this trip - head to Pokhara instead (Annapurnas).

Cost per trip is ca. USD 120 per person, and you will have a window seat, as well as have an opportunity to enter the cockpit and take pictures of the mountain as the pilot sees them.

Word of caution: don't set a stringent schedule for the day. Although the flights are typically in the morning to take advantage of the best weather, each airline has several flights operating on the day and your booking is for one of them, not for a particular flight. You are, however, guaranteed a departure and that if there are several people in your party, you'll be on the same flight.

Things to consider for photographers

With fellow photographers in mind, here's what to consider:

- Weather: could ruin everything, although in the morning it's usually good. Don't be too concerned by low clouds - you'll be far above them, as well pretty much all of the peaks

- Camera speed: you'll have to shoot with the very short lens opening time to reduce the blur, so possibly a high ISO. That tends to reduce the quality of the pictures through noise

- Airplane windows: there will be some dirt, as well as some reflections. Dirt, however, is nothing so bad that Photoshop won't fix quickly. For reflections, a circular polariser is highly recommended

- Bluish cast: all of the photos will have a blue cast to them, due to the type of window coating that is used on the planes. Photoshop again, I'm afraid.

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The mountain Flight takes you to the following peaks, however for me it will be very difficult to identify each one of them. They give you a brochure to identify each peak and the air hostess also tells you which peak it is. But it is up to you to remember.

The peaks I saw are: Langtang Lirung( 7234M), Shisha Pangma( 8013M), Dorje- Lakpa(6966M), Phurbi- Ghyachu ( 6637M), Choba-Bhamre(5970M), Kodari (1770M) Road to Lhasa & Tibet, Gauri Shankar ( 7134M), Melungtse (7181M), Chugimago( 6297M), Pigferago( 6620M), Numbur (6957M), Karyolung (6511M), Cho-oyo( 8201M), Gyachungkang ( 7652M), Pumoki (7161M), Nuptse (7855M), Sagarmatha ( Everest 8848M), Lhotse ( 8516M), Ama-Dablan (6812M), Chamlang (7319M), Makalu 8463M).

The pictures I am putting in the tips are not really in seriatim, but if you see the video clips, you can identify those peaks. I shall also put a picture of the brochure so it will be easy to identify.

4 more images

The mountain Flight takes you to the following peaks, however for me it will be very difficult to identify each one of them. They give you a brochure to identify each peak and the air hostess also tells you which peak it is. But it is up to you to remember.

The peaks I saw are: Langtang Lirung( 7234M), Shisha Pangma( 8013M), Dorje- Lakpa(6966M), Phurbi- Ghyachu ( 6637M), Choba-Bhamre(5970M), Kodari (1770M) Road to Lhasa & Tibet, Gauri Shankar ( 7134M), Melungtse (7181M), Chugimago( 6297M), Pigferago( 6620M), Numbur (6957M), Karyolung (6511M), Cho-oyo( 8201M), Gyachungkang ( 7652M), Pumoki (7161M), Nuptse (7855M), Sagarmatha ( Everest 8848M), Lhotse ( 8516M), Ama-Dablan (6812M), Chamlang (7319M), Makalu 8463M).

The pictures I am putting in the tips are not really in seriatim, but if you see the video clips, you can identify those peaks. I shall also put a picture of the brochure so it will be easy to identify.

4 more images

The mountain Flight takes you to the following peaks, however for me it will be very difficult to identify each one of them. They give you a brochure to identify each peak and the air hostess also tells you which peak it is. But it is up to you to remember.

The peaks I saw are: Langtang Lirung( 7234M), Shisha Pangma( 8013M), Dorje- Lakpa(6966M), Phurbi- Ghyachu ( 6637M), Choba-Bhamre(5970M), Kodari (1770M) Road to Lhasa & Tibet, Gauri Shankar ( 7134M), Melungtse (7181M), Chugimago( 6297M), Pigferago( 6620M), Numbur (6957M), Karyolung (6511M), Cho-oyo( 8201M), Gyachungkang ( 7652M), Pumoki (7161M), Nuptse (7855M), Sagarmatha ( Everest 8848M), Lhotse ( 8516M), Ama-Dablan (6812M), Chamlang (7319M), Makalu 8463M).

The pictures I am putting in the tips are not really in seriatim, but if you see the video clips, you can identify those peaks. I shall also put a picture of the brochure so it will be easy to identify.

I am putting the same text in next tips but pictures are different.

4 more images

The mountain Flight takes you to the following peaks, however for me it will be very difficult to identify each one of them. They give you a brochure to identify each peak and the air hostess also tells you which peak it is. But it is up to you to remember.

The peaks I saw are: Langtang Lirung( 7234M), Shisha Pangma( 8013M), Dorje- Lakpa(6966M), Phurbi- Ghyachu ( 6637M), Choba-Bhamre(5970M), Kodari (1770M) Road to Lhasa & Tibet, Gauri Shankar ( 7134M), Melungtse (7181M), Chugimago( 6297M), Pigferago( 6620M), Numbur (6957M), Karyolung (6511M), Cho-oyo( 8201M), Gyachungkang ( 7652M), Pumoki (7161M), Nuptse (7855M), Sagarmatha ( Everest 8848M), Lhotse ( 8516M), Ama-Dablan (6812M), Chamlang (7319M), Makalu 8463M).

The pictures I am putting in the tips are not really in seriatim, but if you see the video clips, you can identify those peaks. I shall also put a picture of the brochure so it will be easy to identify.

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I just had this wonderful experience! For the last ten years I wanted to take this flight but the time we landed Kathmandu it was always cloudy. After my arrival at Kathmandu, I found the representative from Buddha Air was waiting for me at hotel Excelsior lobby with the ticket and credit card punching machine. I called their manager reservation Mr. Karna( 009779841291008) from Kolkata on 17th and then on 18th, May and expressed my desire to take the flight if the weather is clear. I also sent him mail and he was kind enough to sent his instant reply.

Next morning I got us at 5.00 and was at the domestic airport at 6.00AM. After a while we were given our boarding passes and we were there at the Beachcraft aircraft, which accomodates only 16 persons. Just after leaving Kathmandu airport, with in five minutes the ranges started. It was just breath taking view. The sky was clear with sunshine and the pilot took us to the Everest after showing many peaks. The air hostess Ganga, also gave us detailed descriptions of each peak we were crossing. She attended each person separately and also invited us to in the cockpit. The pilot and the co-pilot allowed us to take pictures from the cockpit. I took as many pictures and videos with my both hand. I think, I have taken almost 100 pictures and about 9 video clips in all. I shall load almost all the video clips ( they are better than the pictures as I did not have a professional camera with long zoom) in VT. I think, I shll be the first VT member to upload videos of the mountain flight. I give here the link of the videos.
Please get in touch with them by phone or mail: Phone: +977-1-4437025/4437677. Email: buddhaair@buddhaair.com; website: http://www.buddhaair.com

The Flight costs USD$ 100 or Rs.6815 in Nepal Currency, in Indian Currency it is Rs4300/- . You will also have to pay airport tax of NPRs170/- ( USD$3)as service charge at the airport.

Please see the continued tips for more.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/vb/13d326/6f618/